Baiada Oakburn Processing Facility

December 2018

Baiada Oakburn Processing Facility

EIS Consultation report

Page 2 of 15

Baiada Proposed Poultry Processing Facility – December 2018 The Comms Team

Contents

1. Executive summary .................................................................................................... 3

2. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 4

3. Methodology ............................................................................................................... 5

3.1 Stage one: Targeted stakeholder engagement (June–August 2018) ....................... 5

3.2 Stage two: Broader community consultation (November–December 2018) ............. 6

4. Summary of consultation outcomes ............................................................................ 7

4.1 Email and 1800 calls ............................................................................................... 7

4.2 Stakeholder meetings ............................................................................................. 7

5. Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 7

Attachments 1. Print advertisement

2. Flyer

3. Letter

4. Letter distribution list

5. Media release

6. Media coverage

7. Letter of support, Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union

Page 3 of 15


1. Executive summary Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (Baiada) has been processing poultry in Tamworth for more than 60 years. Owing to continued growth in the consumption of poultry products, the company needs to significantly expand their operations.

While Baiada secured approval to build a larger, integrated plant with the capacity to process up to one million birds per week in 1998, to date only Stage 1 of the facility (the Oakburn Protein Rendering Plant) has been completed. The company is currently preparing a new Development Application (DA) for the site which will allow construction of a new facility with the capacity to process up to three million birds per week to meet existing and projected demand for poultry products in Australia.

Due to the scale and value of the proposal it is classified as State Significant and Designated Development. As such, Baiada must meet requirements set by the Secretary of the NSW Department of Planning, including the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), informed by an effective and genuine community consultation process.

To meet their obligations, Baiada engaged PSA Consulting to prepare the EIS and The Comms Team to undertake community consultation. By working collaboratively, PSA Consulting and The Comms Team have delivered a range of communication and engagement activities, targeting the broader community and specific stakeholders.

The focus of community engagement was to raise awareness about the proposal, and provide the opportunity for neighbours, residents and the community to provide input or raise questions with respect to the proposed development. This was achieved through advertising, distribution of an information flyer, a letter to neighbouring landowners offering face-to-face meetings and an interview with ABC New England North West.

The process undertaken was thorough and enabled a genuine opportunity for consultation. Stakeholders were provided with multiple channels to receive information and provide feedback. Those located nearby were provided with direct communication and an invitation to meet with the project team.

There appears to be general interest in the project and the activities undertaken increased community awareness about the proposed development. However, the project team received no requests from stakeholders or neighbours for face-to-face meetings and received very few email or phone enquiries. The few enquiries received were either to seek additional project information or convey support for the proposed development. No project-specific issues were raised.

This is potentially due to the history of the project, the existing approvals attached to the site and the development of this area as a key food production hub. Baiada also has an established presence in the community and it is likely considered a desirable outcome that operations move from the existing facility in town, to a larger, more suitable location.

Page 4 of 15


2. Introduction The development of an integrated poultry processing plant at Baiada’s Oakburn property in Tamworth was originally approved in February 1998. This approval allowed for the development of an integrated poultry processing plant with a maximum production capacity of one million birds per week. To date, only Stage 1 – the protein rendering plant – has been constructed.

In response to the projected growth in demand for poultry products, Baiada is now proceeding with a new DA for a poultry processing plant with increased production capacity of three million birds per week.

Due to the capital investment associated with the project, the development is ‘State Significant’ and will therefore be assessed by the NSW Minister of Planning as the Consent Authority. Baiada is required to compile a DA and EIS as part of the planning approvals process. PSA Consulting (PSA) has been engaged by Baiada Pty Ltd to assist with the preparation of the EIS to support the DA.

Community consultation forms an important part of the EIS by informing the community about the proposed development and seeking feedback on issues of concern. The Comms Team were engaged by Baiada to develop and execute a Community Consultation Action Plan.

This plan delivered a range of communication and engagement activities as outlined in Section 3. Consultation outcomes and results are provided in Section 4. The EIS will demonstrate how any identified community impacts will be mitigated through the design and/or operation of the facility.

Page 5 of 15


3. Methodology As the lead consultant preparing the EIS, PSA initially engaged with key state and local government stakeholders about the proposed facility during a first phase of engagement in mid-2018.

The Comms Team subsequently developed a Community Consultation Action Plan to guide communication and engagement activities across the local community and with specific stakeholders, in and around the proposed Poultry Processing Facility at 1154 Gunnedah Road, Westdale in Tamworth.

These activities occurred over two stages, as outlined below.

3.1 Stage one: Targeted stakeholder engagement (June–August 2018) The proposed Oakburn Processing Plant is Designated Development and State Significant Development due to production volume and capital investment value associated with the project.

In June 2018, following the Planning Focus Meeting, PSA formally requested Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the project. The SEARs were received in 2 July 2018 and included the requirement for the proponent to undertake “effective and genuine community consultation”.

The following activities were delivered by PSA Consulting in accordance with SEARs:

Activity Timing Preliminary engagement with key state and local government stakeholders: • Department of Planning • Environmental Protection Agency • Roads and Maritime Services • Office of Environment and Heritage • Department of Primary Industries • Department of Water • Natural Resources Access Regulator • NSW Health – Hunter New England Local Health District • Civil Aviation Safety Authority • Tamworth Regional Council • Tamworth Regional Airport

Jun – Aug 2018

Planning Focus Meeting held in Tamworth – attended by representatives from Tamworth Regional Council, Department of Planning and Environment, Department of Primary Industries and Environmental Protection Agency.

1 Jun 2018

Request for comment on the EIS sent to Civil Aviation Safety Authority, NSW Health/Hunter New England Local Health District, Essential Energy Water and Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR).

Aug 2018

Page 6 of 15


3.2 Stage two: Broader community consultation (November–December 2018)

Community consultation is a key requirement of the EIS process and ensures the community are provided sufficient information regarding a proposed development and given adequate opportunity to consider the potential impacts and raise any concerns they may have.

The following communication and engagement activities were undertaken by The Comms Team across the broader community and with neighbouring landowners:

Activity/tool Timing

Letter and flyer sent to 14 neighbours and sensitive receivers (see Attachment 4) – project information supplied and an offer to meet with the project team.

21 Nov 2018

Media release provided to Northern Daily Leader and ABC New England North West – project information supplied including consultation phone number and email.

22 Nov 2018

Management of the consultation phone number and email. 23 Nov – 14 Dec 2018

Print advertisement (1/4 page) placed in Northern Daily Leader – project information supplied including consultation phone number and email.

24 Nov 2018

Flyer distributed to residents and businesses within project area (see Figure 1) approximately 1800 properties – project information supplied including consultation phone number and email.

26 Nov – 30 Nov 2018

Meetings offered to interested residents and businesses within the project area, and other stakeholders or community members with an interest.

Note: no stakeholders responded to the meeting offer, therefore meetings were not held.

Planned meeting period: 10 Dec – 12 Dec 2018 however, no meetings held.

Figure 1: Flyer distribution area

Page 7 of 15


4. Summary of consultation outcomes 4.1 Email and 1800 calls

Date of enquiry Stakeholder Feedback 27 November 2018 Mark Lyden, Resident • Seeking general project information. Mark is a

solicitor in Tamworth. Enquiring on behalf of his clients with skills/resources that may be of value to the project.

27 November 2018 Ben Blinman, Resident • Seeking confirmation of plant location and whether the existing motorsports complex will be removed and replaced with new facility.

29 November 2018 Robert Collins, Resident • Highly supportive of the project as his business depends on the poultry industry.

6 December 2018 Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU)

• Highly supported of the project and the employment opportunities it provides for local people, especially young people. Letter of support can be found in Attachment 7.

4.2 Stakeholder meetings No stakeholder meetings where held. While the offer was made, not stakeholders requested a meeting.

5. Conclusion The process undertaken was thorough and enabled a genuine opportunity for consultation. Stakeholders were provided with multiple channels to receive information and provide feedback. Those located nearby were provided with direct communication and an invitation to meet with the project team.

There appears to be general interest in the project and the activities undertaken increased community awareness about the proposed development. However, the project team received no requests from stakeholders or neighbours for face-to-face meetings and received very few email or phone enquiries. The few enquiries received were either to seek additional project information or convey support for the proposed development. No project-specific issues were raised.

This is potentially due to the history of the project, the existing approvals attached to the site and the development of this area as a key food production hub. Baiada also has an established presence in the community and it is likely considered a desirable outcome that operations move from the existing facility in town, to a larger, more suitable location.

The Comms Team Baiada Proposed Poultry Processing Facility – December 2018

Page 8 of 15

Attachments Attachment 1:

Print advertisement appeared in Northern Daily Leader – 24 November 2018


Page 9 of 15

Attachment 2:

Flyer distributed to residents and businesses within project area – 24 to 30 November 2018.


Page 10 of 15


Page 11 of 15

Attachment 3:

Letter and flyer sent to selected neighbours and sensitive receivers – 21 November 2018.


Page 12 of 15

Attachment 4:

Letter and flyer distribution list – 21 November 2018.

Property address Postal address Suburb State Postcode

368-370 Wallamore Road 470 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

428 Wallamore Road “Kirkandrews”, 428 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

514A Wallamore Road 75 Anthony Road SOUTH TAMWORTH

NSW 2340

532 Wallamore Road “Lagoona”, 532 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

550 Wallamore Road 21 Janelle Street SOUTH TAMWORTH

NSW 2340

560 Wallamore Road “Riverwood”, 560 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

588 Wallamore Road 15 Ebony Close HILLVUE NSW 2340

598 Wallamore Road “The Billabong”, 598 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

608 Wallamore Road “Little Billabong”, 608 Wallamore Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

620 Wallamore Road 750 Gloucester Road WINGHAM NSW 2429

85 Old Winton Road PO Box 555 TAMWORTH NSW 2430

239 New Winton Road PO BOX 7176 NEMSC NSW 2348

337 New Winton Road 337 New Winton Road WESTDALE NSW 2340

369 New Winton Road 369 New Winton Road WESTDALE NSW 2340


Page 13 of 15

Attachment 5:

Media release pitched to local media outlets – 22 November 2018.


Page 14 of 15

Attachment 6:

Media coverage

1. Pre-recorded interview by Kelly Fuller – ABC New England North West and Simon Camilleri – Baiada. Broadcast date – 23 November 2018.

2. Article in Northern Daily Leader – 24 November 2018 – see below.


Page 15 of 15

Attachment 7:

Letter of support, Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union – 10 December 2018.

Baiada Oakburn Processing Facility

Documents